Herbicidal composition and method



United States Patent Office r 3,407,056 HERBICIDAL COMPOSITION AND METHOD Herbert Schwartz, Chimes Terrace,

Vineland, NJ. 08360 1 No Drawing. Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 451,991, Apr. 29, 1965. This application Mar. 17, 1966,

Ser. No. 535,032

13 Claims. (Cl. 71-118) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Novel herbicidal compositions comprising at least one compound of the formula wherein X is selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, lower alkoxy, NH and monoand di-lower alkyl amino, m is an integer from to 2 and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aliphatic and halogenated aliphatic radicals having 1 to carbon atoms, cycloaliphatic radicals having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and aralkyl and aryl radicals and a major amount of an inert carrier. The invention also relates to a novel method of regulating the growth of plants.

PRIOR APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-impart applciation .of my copending United States patent application Ser. No.

451,991, filed Apr. 29, 1965 and now abandoned, which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part application of my United States patent application Ser. No. 293,863, filed July 9, 1963 and now abandoned.

PRIOR ART The commercial use of herbicides has only recently begun to reach substantial proportions and a great deal of research has been conducted in this field in the last few years. Anilides substituted directly on the phenyl group are now commercially available. Examples of these compounds are 3',4'-dichloropropionanilide, (Stam), 3',4'-dichloromethylacrylanilide (Dicryl), 3',4'-dichloro-a-methylvaleranilide (Karsil), and 3'-chloro-4-methyl-u-methylvaleranilide (Solan). The said halogenated anilides, however, possess only post-emergence herbicidal activity and are not seelctive in their activity on a variety of crops.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 3,407,056 Patented Oct. 22, 1968 2 THE INVENTION The novel herbicidal compositions of the invention are comprised of at least one trifiuoromethylanilide of the formula wherein X is selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, lower alkoxy, NH and monoand di-lower alkyl amino, m is an integer from 0 to 2 and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aliphatic and halogenated aliphatic radicals having 1 to 10 carbon atoms in which the longest carbon chain is six carbon atoms, cycloaliphatic radicals having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl radicals and aralkyl radicals in which the alkyl chain contains 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a major amount of an inert carrier.

The compositions may be in the form of dusting preparations or solutions, emulsions, dispersions or concentrates.

Preferred compounds of the invention are compounds in which R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl and halogenated lower alkyl radicals having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, lower alkenyl radicals having 2 to 7 carbon atoms, cycloaliphatic radicals of the formula --CH(CH wherein m is an integer from 2 to 7, aryl radicals having the formula wherein R is an alkylene or alkenylene radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R, is seelcted from the group consisting of halogen and lower alkyl and x is an integer from 1 to 5.

The compounds of Formula I are distinguished from the prior art halogenated anilides not only be chemical structure but also in their plant growth regulating activity. The trifluoromethylanilides of Formula I possess both preemergence and post-emergence activity while the prior art halogenated anilides possess only post-emergence activity which limits their application. In addition, the trifluoromethylanilides possess a different seelctivity in their herbicidal activity. For example, 3'-trifiuoromethyl-u-methylvaleranilide is an effective herbicide against Johnson grass ,without harming cotton or tomato plants while 3',4'-dichloropropionanilide (Stain), kills almost everything but rice and 3'-chloro-4'-methyl-a-methylvaleranilide (Solan), kills almost everything but tomatoes. Therefore, the former is effective in controlling the growth of weeds in cotton fields while the latter are not.

Xm O

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, lower alkoxy, -NH, and mono and di-lower alkyl amino, m is an integer from O to 2 and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aliphatic and halogenated aliphatic radicals having 1 to 10 carbon atoms in which the longest carbon chain is 6 carbon atoms,

cycloaliphatic radicals having ,3 to 8 carbon atoms and or tetrahydronaphthalene, if desired, with the use of xylene mixtures, cyclohexanols, ketones, or chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as tetrachloroethane, trichloroethylene or trior tetrachlorobenzenes.

Aqueous preparations suitable for application can be prepared by the addition of water to emulsion concentrates, pastes or wettable powders. As emulsifying or dispersing agents there may be used non-ionic products, for example, condensation products of ethyleneoxide with aliphatic alcohols, amines or carboxylic acids containing a hydrocarbon radical having about 10 to 30 carbon atoms, such as a condensation product of octadecyl al cohol with 25 to 30 molecular proportions of ethylene oxide, or of soya bean fatty acid with 30 molecular proportions of ethylene oxide or of commercial oleylamine with 15 molecular proportions of ethylene oxide or of dodecylmercaptan with 12 molecular proportions of ethyleneoxide. Among anion active emulsifying agents there may be mentioned the sodium salt of dodeoyl alcohol sulfuric acid ester, the sodium salt or dodecyl-benzene sulfonic acid, the potassiu mor triethanolamine salt of oleic acid or abietic acid or of a mixture of these acids, or the sodium salt of petroleum-sulfonic acid. As cation-active dispersing agents there may be used, quaternary ammonium compounds, such as cetylpyridinium bromide or di-(hydroxyethyl) benzyl-dodecyl-ammonium chloride.

. ,For making dusting or scattering preparations, there may be used as solid carriers talcum, kaolin, bentonite, calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate or carbon, cork meal or wood meal or other materials of vegetable origin. The various preparations can be rendered more suitable for the various ways in which they are to be used by the known addition of substances which improve the dispersion, adhesiveness, resistance to rain or penetration capacity of the compositions. As such substances, there may be mentioned fatty acids, resins, glue, casein, or, for example, alginates or the like.

The trifluoromethylanilide herbicidal compositions can also contain herbicidal oxidizing ions to obtain synergistic herbicidal compositions. Examples of suitable oxidzing ions are dipyridylium salts such as 1,1-ethylene- 2,2'-dipyridylium dibromide (Diquat), 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'- dipyridylium di(methylsulfate) '(Paraquat), etc; alkali metal and alkaline earth metal nitrate salts such as sodium nitrate, calcium nitrate, etc.; herbicidal arsenical compounds such as monoalkanearsonic acids and lower dialkylarsinic acids such as methanearsonic acid, propanearsonic acid, dibutylalrsinic acid, dipropylarsinic acid, cacodylic acid (hydroxyldimethylarsine oxide), etc., and their alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and amine salts such as monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA), disodium methanearsonate (DSMA), calcium hydrogen methanearsonate, and amine salts of the said arsonic acid where the amine is ethanolamine, triethanolamine, isopropylamine, tri-isopropanolaamine, mixtures of alkylamines having 8 to 14 carbon atoms, etc.

The trifluoromethylcycloalkanecarboxanilides of Formula I are novel compounds and possess unexpected herbicidal selectivity not possessed by the corresponding halogen substituted cycloalkanecarboxanilides. As shown in Example IX, the trifluoromethylcycloalkanecarboxanilides possess a high degree of herbicidal activity but not against valuable crops, such as cotton and rice, while the corresponding halogenated compounds do not possess this selectivity.

The trifiuoromethylanilides of Formula I can be made by the usual methods of forming anilides. For example, a 2,3 or 4'-trifiuoromethylaniline can be reacted with the acid halide or acid anhydride of the desired carboxylic acid.

In the following examples, there are described several preferred embodiments to illustrate the invention. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments.

Example I The compounds of the invention were prepared by reacting a tr'ifiuoromethylaniline with the desired organic acid halide or organic acid anhydride. In Table I there are listed a number of compounds of the invention with their melting points.

TABLE I Xm NHCR Position of CFz Melting Percent Nitrogen Group R Xm Point, 0.

Calculated Found 104-105 63-64 5. 45 5.60 104-105 4. 57 4. -CH -CH; 70-71 6. 45 6. 39

9H: 3 -C=CH1 -96 6.11 6.25

3 3 CHCH; 10(J10l Position 0! OF: 4 Melting Percent Nih'bgen Group R Xm Po1nt,C.

. Calculated Found CH; HCHr-OH1CH1. 5.40 5.00

, 0H4-c1 5. 00 5. as

1 3 C-CH|CH1CH1 00-51 5.12 5.20

Br 5 Q 4.01 4.14

a ..-0H=0H 102-103 4.92 4.02

0H1 (|1CH| 5.71 6.00

s -CH=CH-CH1 5.12 0.13

3' GHQ-CH! 6.11 6.05

3' -CH-CH| 5.76 5. 51

CH; HI I CHr-CH:

CH:- H1

CH3 CH| a -"c 0H4 5.10 5.44 CH:C 1 I V 3' (Mi -CH1 I 6-0hloro 1 115-116 5.32 5.28

I Y 4 2x. cur- 0111, 4 0111015 127-128 5.32 5.21

a. -c1i- 5H4 1; 1 v 111010 1 02-03... 5.05 14.05

' 'CHr-AH;

cm 114-115 10.20 10.24 4-6 1. \CH1 Position of CF: Melting Percent Nitrogen Group 11 Km Pint,C.

' c trl. FP l CH; 2' Q 4'N 198-200 9. 09 a 9. 03

CH: 1 3' 1-c11, 4'-c1 134-131 5.14 5.80

3' -crr=c11-c11, 4'-c1 a. 14 5.99 a 43111-011, 4-01 6. 48 6.51 a -oH, 4'-o1 6.93 ass (iJHI 3' 1-0H. e'-c1 mas-1014s.--- 4.94 4.91 CE; I

a --CH=CH 4'c1 1s1-1as;..-.-.. 4.83 7.78

a H 4-01 99-100 1.44 1. 4s

a @411 4Cl 135-136 4. e9 4. 51

01 a Q 4'c1 139-140 4. 69 4.01

3 4'c1 150-163 4. 69 4. as

CH; a -0 c1, 4-N\ 64-67 8.01 1. 99

3 -cc1. 4'-c1 108-110 4.11 4.09 a -c on 4-131- 94-95 4.64 14.11

Example II.General post-emergence herbicidal activity To demonstrate the general herbicidal activity of the trifluoromethylanilides of the invention, some of the compounds listed in Table I were applied to seven difierent plants according to the following procedure.

The compounds were prepared as emulsion concentrates in two specific types of solvents as follows:

Triton X-161 is a blend of anionic and nonionic alkyl aryl polyether alcohols and organic sulfonates. Solvent F a 50:50 by volume mixture of diethylene glycol monobutyl'c'ther acetate and Ve'lsicol AR 50 (methylated naphthalenes). Solvent 50M is a 20:80 by volume mixture of ethyl acetate and Velsicol AR 50. Before application, the concentrates were diluted to a concentration of 2000 ppm. of the compound being tested.

. The seven crops to be tested had been planted in flats 12 to 14 days before the tests and were well established seedlings. The plants were sprayed by a precision turntable technique in which 30 ml. of the spray solution (about 2.5 pounds per acre) was applied to each flat containing-the seven crops. The plants were. then kept under constant daily surveillance for a period of 7 to 14 days. The final phytotoxicity data were recorded at the end of 14 days and the plants were scored for phytotoxicity ratings on a scale from 0 (no injury to plants), to 10 (all the plants were killed). The results of the tests are summarized in Table II.

TABLE IL-POST-EMERGENCE HERBICIDAL ACTIVITY OF 3'-TRIFLUOROMETHYLANILIDE SERIES OF CHEMICALS I i Phytoxicity Rating Beats 7 Tomato Radish Flax Rye Grass Oats Wheat Solvent Compound 0 197000004 0 0 mmmmmwwmlm 11111 1 1 9 00000 0 0 wmmmmmm w3 11111001 1 0 50 O\/ 00 mmmmmmm m i i ioiim 50 IT 1 0O mmm mwm mmm 1 m 11m Oats Wheat Cucumhers Phytotoxicity Rating Beets Tomatoes Radish Johnson Grass Solvent Compound 3'-trifluoromethylcyelopentanecarboxanllide 50M m ma mm m w F 50M. F 60M F idual crops in 4-inch pots in Table HI.

0F TRIFLUOROMETHYLANI- BEANS, TOMATO AND JOHNSON GRASS Phytotoxiclty Rating I Cotton Bean Tomato Johnson Grass tive activity against Johnson grass without injury or with a minimum of injury to cotton, beans or tomatoes. The

tests were conducted with indiv six weeks old with well developed secondary leaves and the Red Kidney Beans were three weeks old with well developed secondary leaves and the tomatoes were about one month from the time of transplanting. The Johnson 6& grass was about six weeks old and well into the third leaf stage development and was about 4 inches high.

The crops were sprayed as in Example II with ml. of solution per three pots (2.5 pounds per acre) and after v p v 14 days the plants were scored for phytotoxicity ratings as The compounds of the invention were tested for selec- 50 before. The results are summarized Solvent LIDE DERIVATIVES ON COTTON,

Compound 1 Gross morphogenio efiectsleaf linear, twisting, curling, epinasty, 2,4-D and benzoic acid symptoms-hormonic response. .abnomnal morphologytwisting, blunt leaf effect."

It can easily be seen from Table II that 3'-trifluoromethylbenzanilide and 3'-trifluor0methylacetanilide would be useful as herbicides for wild oats inwheat fields since they are strongly toxic to oats and have little or no effect 40 for greater accuracy. The cotton crops were approximately on wheat. 3'-trifiuoromethyl-o-toluanilide is'also toxic to broadleaf plants except for cotton and beans and is, therefore, useful for killing broadleat' weeds in cotton fields. 2'-trifiuoromethylbenzanilide in solvent M is a good herbicide for tomatoes since it kills the other dicotyledonous plants and various grasses without injury to the tomato even in the sensitive seedling stage. Example III.-Selective post-emergence herbicidal activity TABLE IIIa.POST EMERGENCE HERBICIDAL ACTIVITY TABLE 1111) Flat POtS Compound Solvent Johnson Large Medium Small rass Cotton Cotton Bean Tomato Johnson Johnson J ohnson Grass Grass Grass 3-trifluoromethyl-l-cyclopentanecarboxanilide {i g g g i g 'g 2 g 3-trifiuoromethyl-2,Mimethylvaleranilide 3 g g i g 2 2 g Btrifluoromethyltriethylacetnnilido E g g 5 g g 2 Z Z 3-trliluoromethYl-l-cyclohexanecarboxanilide g i l 3 g 2 I5 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrob enzanilide ,{g g 2- 5 i l 1(1) 1 1 Growth stopped.

As can be noted from Table III, the trifiuoromethylanilides of the invention possess a very good herbicidal activity against Johnson grass while being non-phytotoxic to cotton or possess a very low toxicity to cotton while 3,4-dichl0ropropionanilide gave a 100% kill of both Johnson grass and cotton and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,l-dimethyl urea had a toxicity rating of 6. C rtain of the trifiuoromethylanilides also showed little or no The plates were examined daily and at the end of seven days final observations were made on the percent of germination and eifect on germination, and a phytotoxicity rating was made. The phytotoxicity rating was based on the scale of 0 (no phytotoxicity) to 10 (total kill). Total kill included seeds which were killed or seeds where the cotyledons attempted to emerge and were then killed. The results are summarized in Table IV.

TABLE IV.--EFFECT OF CHEMICALS ON SEED GERMINATION IN PETRI PLATES Compound Variable Radish Barley Cucumber 3-trifluoromethyl benzanilide g??? f g 3'-trlfluoromethyl acetanilide ant Germ g g 3-trifiuoromethyl-Z-bromobenzanilide g 3-triiluoromethyl proplonanih'de 8 3 3-trifluoromethyl-3,4-dichlorobenzanilide {g gi f i 99%; g 3-trifluoromethyl--nitrobenzanllide .{gf f i fff t'l g 3-trlfluoromethyl methecrylanilide FY5 3g 5 g g 3'-trifluoromethyl lsobutyranilide. i 93 3:: Z I g g 3-trifluoromethyl-a-methylvaleranillde "g i Germ g 3'-trifluoromethyl-2,6-dichlorobenzanilide ,g Untreated 3 I No roots-short, flat, etiolated cotyledon inhibition. 1 Trace roots only-no cotyledons. 8 Roots scarce-yellow cotyledons.

4 General severe inhibition. 6 Inhibition% size of checks.

Cotyledons emerge M; to 34 inch from seed, and then are completely inhibited from further growth.

7 Inhibition of cotyledonary growth.

Example IV.-Pre-emergence herbicidal activity by seed germination test The trifiuoromethylanilides for this test were formulated as wettable powders containing of the said compounds and 75% by weight of pre-mix consisting of 92% by weight of Hi Sil 232 (a hydrated silica pigment), 4% by weight of Marasperse N (a lignosulfonate) and 4% by weight of Pluronic L 61 (an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide condensate). The test procedure followed consisted of placing two pieces of filter paper in the top portion of sterile plastic Petri plates and adding 5 ml. of an aqueous dispersion containing 2500 p.p.m. of the wettable powder. 25 seeds were then placed on the filter paper pads and the bottom of the Petri plates were inverted thercover to act as aseal. Y

As can be seen from Table IV, the compounds having the most general phytotoxicity to the seeds or emerging cotyledons are 3'-trifiuoromethylacetanilide, 3'-trifiuoromethylpropionanilide. 3-trifiuoromethylmethacrylanilide, 3' trifiuoromethylisobutyraniiide and 3-trifiuoromethyla-methylvaleranilide.

Example V.-Pre-emergence herbicidal activity Flats were planted with the test crops and three days later the flats were drenched with an aqueous solution of the compounds formulated as 10% emulsion concentrate in Solvent F as in Example II at a dosage equivalent to 10 pounds per acre by a broadcast application method or 2.5 to 3 pounds per acre by a row treatment application method. The plants were observed daily and after two weeks the final phytotoxicity rating was determined.

The phytotoxicity rating was based on a scoring system of 0 (no effect) to 10 (complete kill). A number of phytocidal symptoms from varying degrees of inhibition suppression of growth, chlorosis, necrosis and kill were considered. Kill could be due to lack of emergence v above ground or death of seedlings after emergence.

TABLE V.PRE-EMERGENCE HERBICIDAL ACTIVITY OF TOLUIDIDES [10 Lbs. Per Acre] Phytotoxicity Rating Compound Beets Tomato Radish Flax Rye Oats Wheat Johnson Grass Grass 3'-trifluoromethylbenzanillde 7-1 8-1 3 1 l-i l-i 2-1 3-trifiuoromethylacetanilide- 7-1 6-1 4 1 0 1 1 H 3'-trifluoromethyl-Z-bromobenzanilido 5-1 6-1 8 4-1 0 0 0 l-i 3-trifiuoromethylpropionanilide 3-1 4-1 7 0 0 0 3-1 3-trifiuoromethyl-3,4-diohlorobenzanilide 3-1 6-1 3 4 0 0 0 2-i 3'-trifiuoromethyl-4-nitrobenzanilide 2-1 3-1 3 2 0 0 0 1-1 3-trlfluoromethy1methacrylanilide... 10-k 10-k 9 6-1 3-1 3-i 8-i 8 Phytotoxieity Rating Compound Beets Tomato Radish Flax Rye Oats Wheat Johnson Pig Soy Pea Grass Grass weed Beans nuts 3'-trifiuoromethylisobutyranilide 8-1 8-1 10-k 9-1: 6-1 6-1 2-1 3-trifluoromethyl-a-methylvaleranilide. l0-k 10-k 104; 3-1 2-1 3'-trifluoromethyl-2,fi-diohlorobenzanilide 7-1 5-1 2-1 0 0 3 -trifluoromethyl-2,2-di.methylvaleran1lide. 8 4 2 6 6 3-trifluoromethyltriethylacetanilide 0 0 0 6 1 3-trifluoromethylcyclohexaneoarboxanillde- 7-1 7-1 2-1 0 0 3-trifluoromethylcyelopropanecarboxanllide- 10 10 -8 1 3-1 Solvent F 2-1 2-1 2-1 1-1 H 111 the above table in the table means that the TABLE VII.POST-EMERGENCE HERBICIDAL ACTIVITY plants were affected mainly by inhibition of growth while g -'U0 O ETHYLCYCLOPROPANE CA BB 0 X- (k), indicates that the plants were killed after emergence.

As can be evidenced from the table, the 3'-trifluoro- Crops Phytotoxicity t g methylanilides of the invention possess pre-emergence Solvent F Solvent 50M herbicidal activity in addition to their post-emergence herbicidal activity.

Example VI.-Pre-emergence herbicidal activity Flats were filled with soil and rows of 25 seeds each of beets, tomatoes, radishes, oats, wheat and rye grass, 50 seeds of Johnson grass and 20 seeds of cotton were planted. The flats were uniformly covered with the same amount of soil which was lightly tampled to give a 22532 33 surface for drench apphcatlon of the test Example VIIL-Systemic mildewcidal activity 3' trifluoromethylcyclohexanecarboxanilide was pre- Red kidney beans in 4 inch pots were grown until they pared as a 10% emulsion concentrate i Sol ent F of reached a point where the cotyledonary leaves were well Example II and was diluted to the desired concentration eXPaHded and essentially full grown and the first P before li i at a dosage ratio of 10 pounds mordial growth of the first true leaves had occurred. The acre. The other trifluoromethylanilide was prepared as a Sale e Plants W then mfected Wlth P mildew 25% Wettable powder with 75% of preqnix consisting (Eryszphe polygom), for 48 hours, after which they were of 92% by weight of Hi $11 232 (a hydrated silica pigf l an aquems emulsm 9 meat), 4% byweight of Marasperse N (a lignosulfonate) 3 -tr1fluoromethylcyclohexane carboxanilide. The said carboxanilide was originally prepared as an emulsion con- 'gfig ig fgmz igggj g g 3 5 1 2 gg gf g ig g centrate consisting of 10% of the said carboxanilide, 10%

of Triton X-16=1 and 80% of a 50:50 mixture mixture of water before application at a. dosage rate of 10 pounds 50 butylcarbitol acetate and Velsicol AR 50. The Sprayed per e After flats were drenched y were plants were again subjected to infection with bean mildew covered Wlth Paper for 3 days Prevent drymg out for a period of two weeks after which a mildewcidal during germination and were uniformly Watered for rating was taken, using the scale of 0 (no control), to 5 3 days after first emergence. When the plants were 3 (complete control).T-he rating on the cotyledonary leaves weeks old, a phytotoxicity rating was taken and the was 5- and 2 on the first true leaves, which demonstrates results are summarized in Table VI. systemic mildewcidal activity under extreme conditions.

' TABLE VI Phytotoxieity Rating Compound Dosage Beets Tomato Radish Flax Rye Oats Wheat Johnson Cotton Grass Grass 3'-trifiuoromethyleyclopropanecarboxanilide 10 10 10 8 1 3-1 3-1 1-1 3-trifluoromethyloyclohexaneoarboxanilide 10 7-1 7-1 3 4 0 0 0 1-1 I 3-trifluoromethyl-4' chloroeyclopropaneearb anilide 10 10 10 1o 9 5 10 0 2-chlor0-5'-trifluoromethyloyolopropanecarboxanilide 10 10 8 5-3 0 0 2 i=inhibit1on of plants. -y=yellowing. 7

Example VII 1 i I Example IX Usin the procedure of Example -II, the general post- Using the procedure of Example II, the following comemergence herbicidal activity of 3-trifluoromethylcyclopounds in Solvent F were applied at a dosage of 2.4 propanecarboxanilide was determined on a variety of pounds per acre to a variety of crops and th ephytotoxicity plants in Solvents F and 50M. The results are summarized values on a scale of 0 to 10 were determined. The results in Table VII. are summarized in Table VIII.

TABLE VIII Ph totoxlcit Ratin Compounds y y g Rad- Cueum- Red So Johnson Gross C t- Beet-s Tomato ish Rice Oats Wheat bers Kidney Bear is tgn Corn Beans Small Medium Large 3-trilluoromeghylcyltl:lio-

propaneear oxani' e 10 8 9+ 2 3 9+ 10 10 4 3'-cl1lorocyclopropane- 10 9+ 9+ 3 m carboxanilide 10 10 10 3 9 10 10 10 8 10 10 9 9 10 3-tr1fiu0roinethyl-4- chloroc geloprold paneear oxanii e 10 10 1O 3 10 10 10 10 1 3,4'-dichlorocyelopro- 7 9+ 2 m panecarboxanilide 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 10 10 10 9 10 Example X Using the procedure of Example 11, the herbicidal activity of the following compounds in Solvents F and 50M at a dosage of 2.4 pounds per acre was determined on a variety of crops. The results are summarized in Table IX.

alkyl amino, m is an integer from 0 to 2 and R is selected from the group consisting of aryl radicals and aralkyl radicals in which the alkyl chain has 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a major amount of an inert carrier.

2. Herbicidal compositions comprising a herbicidally effective amount of trifluoromethylanilide having the formula wherein X is selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, lower alkoxy, NH and monoand di-lower alkyl TABLE IX.POST-EMERGENCE HERBICIDAL ACTIVITY S Rad- Cucum- Pig- Johnson Grass Soy Bed Cot- Compounds vent Beet Tomato ish Oats Wheat ber weed Beans Kidney ton Small Medium Large B cans 3'-trifluorometh vl-4- {R 10 8 8 4 0 10 3 5 6 7 5 6 3 ehloroacetanilide. M 9 8 5 0 0 9 6 2 5 6 7 9 4 3'-trilluorometl1yl-4- {R 9 6 5 0 0 10 3 9 5 5 5 9 4 chloropropionanilide. 50M. 10 9 5 2 2 8 3 1 5 6 5 10 5 3'-trifluorornethyl-4'- {1 7 6 5 2 2 8 1 3 4 4 5 10 3 chloroerotonanilide. 50M. 8 9 6 0 3 8 3 3 5 5 5 6 5 3'-trifiuorometliyl-4- {1 7 5 5 4 2 9 2 5 6 5 4 6 1 chlorocyelobut ane- 501 I 9 7 3 3 1 9 2 4 5 5 4 9 2 oarboxanilide. 3'-trifluorornethyl-4- {F 10 10 9 8 7 10 3 5 8 8 6 10 2 chloroeyclopropane- 50M. 1O 10 9 10 8 10 5 7 6 6 7 10 5 carboxanilido. 3-trlfluoromethyl-6'- F. 2 5 1 0 0 7 2 5 9 10 4 3 0 chlorocyclopropane- 50M. 3 4 2 0 0 5 7 3 3 2 3 3 0 carboxanilido.

Example XI.-Defoliation of plants Cotton plants in pots which were .well into the second true leaf stage were sprayed with 30 ml. of a solution of 3-trifluoromethylacetanilide in Solvent F at a concentration of 2000 ppm. The plants were kept under observation and after 7 days there was 100% defoliation of the cotton. A similar test with beans also gave 100% defoliation of the bean plants.

Various modifications of the compositions of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, and it should be understood that the invention is intended to be limited only as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Herbicidal compositions comprising a herbicidally effective amount of trifiuoromethylanilide having the formula wherein X is selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, lower alkoxy, --NH; and monoand di-lower amino, m is an integer from 0 to 2 and R is selected from the group consisting of aryl radicals having the formula and aralkyl radicals having the formula 6. The compositions of claim 2 wherein the said trifiuoromethylanilide is 3 trifluoromethyl 3,4 dichlorobenzanilide.

7. The compositions of claim 2 wherein the said trifluoromethylanilide is 3'-trifiuoromethyl-o-toluanilide.

8. A method of selectively killing plants which comprises contacting the plants with an herbicidally effective amount of a trifluoromethylanilide having the formula wherein X is selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, lower alkoxy, NH and monoand di-lower alkyl amino, m is an integer from 0 to 2, R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl and halogenated lower alkyl radicals having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, lower alkenyl radicals having 2 to 7 carbon atoms, aryl radicals having the formula and aralkyl radicals having the formula wherein R is selected from the group consisting of halogen and lower alkyl, R is a lower alkylene radical and x is an integer from 1 to 5.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the trifluoromethylanilide is 3'-trifiuoromethylbenzanilide.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the trifluoromethylanilide is 3'-trifluoromethyl-2-bromobenzanilide.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the trifiuoromethylanilide is 3'-trifluoromethyl-2,6-dichlorobenzanilide.

13. A method of selectively killing plants which comprises adding to the soil before plant germination an herbicidally effective amount of a trifluoromethylanilide having the formula wherein X is selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, lower alkoxy, NH and monoand di-lower alkyl amino, m is an integer from 0 to 2 and R is selected from'the group consisting of aryl radicals and aralkyl radicals wherein the alkyl chain has 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,340,042 9/ 1967 Schwartz.

3,246,975 4/1966 Hopkins et al. 71-2.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,005,784 4/ 1957 Germany.

JAMES O. THOMAS JR., Primary Examiner, 

